New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-30
HOW THE CITY F4RED At ALBANY.

nov IHE CITY F3hED n HbDh'I'
IL appears TO DO unusually difficult for the
Democratic and Mugwump newspapers to find
grounds for crticisng tho Legislature They
resort to general denunciation, but when asked
for specifications fail TO furnish any. Oc-
casional references arc made to the Western
Union Tax BILL the Cable Railroad amend
ments and other such alleged "infamous"
measures. But they fail to state that these
wero defeated Tho usual course is TO fall
back on city matters, and talk about the city
being robbed by the rural legislators Such
assertions are both false and ridiculous.
SO far rs the city il robbed at all it Is done
by its own representatives. Every bill passed
by tho Legislature which takes money out Of
tho city treasury was introduced by repre-
sentative of tho city; and the one exception
is bill which leaves the expenditure called
for discretionary with the Board of Estimate
Not only were these bills introduced by home
members, but they were supported by almost
eyery Democrat in tho Legislature, and to
become law they must have the approval of a
Democratic Governor Moreover these Demo
Gratis angrily disputed the right Of the rural
Legislators TO oppose the wishes of the city
members. A watchful rural member from
Chemnng, Senator Fasset, opposed Mr.. Muir
phys bill to allow the military to tample
down Central Park. But Mr.. Murphy grew
indignant at tie opposition Of a rural member
to q bill which no city Senator opposed and
which tho Mayors official representative, the
Assistant Corporation Counsel, had not word
10 saw against In tho Assembly Mr.. Hamilton
and Mr.. Crosby, two Republicans, opposed the
bill, but with the other city members support
ing it there is nothing surprising about lie
passage. And tho history of that bill illus
tratcs city legislation in general.
Mr. Plunkitt's bill for an elevated railroad
on Broadway, Mr.. Traphagen's cable rail-
road scheme, Mr.. Culen's bill to compel tho
city to spend millions of dollars for an exterior
street on the East River for the benefit OF
private property owners, Mr. Murphy's bill TO
abolish the system of doing public work by
contract, Mr.. Shea's $4,000 Harvey steal
Mr.. Ivess bill to create four more judges, and
numerous shameful measures which would
have imposed an enormous additional tax on
this city, had the support Of four-fifths of tho
city representatives, but were defeated by the
rural members. To talk about tho rural legis-
lators robbing tho city, under fuch circum-
stances, is tho rankest injustice.
Considering tho record which the Democratic
City Government has made, the Legislature
has dealt we'll by it. The city authorities
have been authorized to expcnd 81 100000
year for new parks in the lower part of the
city, and 81 100000 to complete Morningsidc
and other parks They have been empowered
to mako an unlimited expenditure for a
criminal court building, and to appropriate
$500 600 for the Natural History Museum and
1912 900 for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Tcnemcnt4House bill, providing for an
important sanitary reform. and other equally
good measures weTe passed. That some OBJ
jectionable ones got through is not surprising
considering tho work of the New York men,
bers. But nearly all these bulls relating to
salaries, etc, were amended SO ar to leave
their execution discretionary with the Board
OF Estimate If no reform measures were
passed for the city it is because none were
introduced by the city members. The High
License BILL however, was reform bill Of
the highest importance, and, as matter of
course, it had tho solid opposition of the
Democrats and was vetoed by the Governor.
The truth is that the Legislature made
good record On city matters, notwithstanding
the bad character of the city's Democratic
representatives.